Solar tracking system

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is a solar tracking system. The solar collector has a first end and a second end. The fulcrum is located between the first end and the second end of the solar collector. The solar collector revolves eastward or westward about the fulcrum. The water container is attached to the first end of the solar collector and has a water inlet and a water outlet valve. The first resilient member is secured to and supports an underside of the first end or second end of the solar collector. The first trigger switch is used to detect if the water container is empty of water to open the water input valve to supply water and close the water outlet valve. The second trigger switch is used to detect if the water container is full of water to close the water input valve and open the water outlet valve to drain water out of the water container.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a solar tracking system and, moreparticularly, to a solar tracking system including a solar energycollector.

2. Description of Related Art

Photovoltaic devices are most efficient when the incident light isperpendicular to the device. Stationary photovoltaic devices do notoperate at optimal efficiency because the sun moves across the skythroughout the day.

A conventional heliostat type solar tracker for a solar energy system,e.g. a photovoltaic device, is configured to slowly revolve by means ofa motor. In a conventional solar energy system capable of generating 1KW of power, its solar module has a weight of about 10 Kg. The solarmodule and other cooperating components, e.g. a supporter, may have atotal weight of more than 100 Kg. Also, a solar collector is quiteheavy. Thus, the revolving of the solar energy system by a motor maydisadvantageously consume much energy and increase cost. This is notdesired. Thus, a need for improvement exists.

SUMMARY

It is therefore an objective of the present invention to provide animproved solar tracking system.

In accordance with the foregoing and other objectives of the presentinvention, a solar tracking system includes a solar collector, afulcrum, a water container, a first resilient member, a water supply, afirst trigger switch and a second trigger switch. The solar collectorhas a first end and a second end. The fulcrum is located between thefirst end and the second end of the solar collector. The solar collectorrevolves eastward or westward about the fulcrum. The water container isattached to the first end of the solar collector and has a water inletand a water outlet valve. The first resilient member is secured to andsupports an underside of the first end of the solar collector, with thefirst resilient member compressing when the solar collector pivots aboutthe fulcrum with the first end moving down and the second end moving up.The water supply is used to input water into the water inlet of thewater container. The first trigger switch is used to detect if the watercontainer is moved upward to a position indicating that the watercontainer is empty of water so as to open the water input valve tosupply water and close the water outlet valve. The second trigger switchis used to detect if the water container is moved downward to a positionindicating that the water container is full of water so as to close thewater input valve and open the water outlet valve to drain water out ofthe water container.

In another embodiment disclosed herein, the first resilient member is acompression spring.

In another embodiment disclosed herein, the solar tracking systemfurther includes a water receiving inlet for collecting the water fromthe water outlet valve.

In another embodiment disclosed herein, the solar tracking systemfurther includes a wire, chain, rope or cable interconnected between thewater container and the first end of the solar collector.

In another embodiment disclosed herein, the solar tracking systemfurther includes a support member, and the fulcrum is pivoted on a topend of the support member.

In another embodiment disclosed herein, the solar tracking systemfurther includes a second resilient member secured to and supporting anunderside of the second end of the solar collector, with the secondresilient member extending as the solar collector pivots about thefulcrum with the first end moving down and the second end moving up.

In another embodiment disclosed herein, the second resilient member isan extension spring.

In another embodiment disclosed herein, the water supply includes awater input valve.

In accordance with the foregoing and other objectives of the presentinvention, a solar tracking system includes a solar collector, afulcrum, a water container, a first resilient member, a water supply, afirst trigger switch and a second trigger switch. The solar collectorhas a first end and a second end. The fulcrum is located between thefirst end and the second end of the solar collector. The solar collectorrevolves eastward or westward about the fulcrum. The water container isattached to the first end of the solar collector and has a water inletand a water outlet valve. The first resilient member is secured to andsupports an underside of the second end of the solar collector, with thefirst resilient member extending when the solar collector pivots aboutthe fulcrum with the first end moving down and the second end moving up.The water supply is used to input water into the water inlet of thewater container. The first trigger switch is used to detect if the watercontainer is empty of water so as to open the water input valve tosupply water and close the water outlet valve. The second trigger switchis used to detect if the water container is full of water so as to closethe water input valve and open the water outlet valve to drain water outof the water container:

In another embodiment disclosed herein, the first resilient member is anextension spring.

In another embodiment disclosed herein, the solar tracking systemfurther includes a water receiving inlet for collecting the water fromthe water outlet valve.

In another embodiment disclosed herein, the solar tracking systemfurther includes a wire, chain, rope or cable interconnected between thewater container and the first end of the solar collector.

In another embodiment disclosed herein, the solar tracking systemfurther includes a support member, and the fulcrum is pivoted on a topend of the support member.

In another embodiment disclosed herein, the solar tracking systemfurther includes a second resilient member secured to and supporting anunderside of the first end of the solar collector, with the firstresilient member compressing as the solar collector pivots about thefulcrum with the first end moving down and the second end moving up.

In another embodiment disclosed herein, the second resilient member is acompression spring.

In another embodiment disclosed herein, the water supply includes awater input valve.

Thus, the solar tracking system disclosed herein fills only one watercontainer throughout the day time and drains it out continuously duringthe night time. This forgoes the need of a clockwork mechanism or anangle measurement device as found in a conventional solar trackingsystem. The flow of water is controlled by valves triggered by thetrigger switches only twice a day when the water container is eitherfull or empty. This leads to a simpler overall system in line with thepurpose of providing a cheap solar tracking system. The water containerdisclosed herein is also attached under the solar collector via a wireas opposed to mounted above the solar collector in the conventionalsolar tracking system. This allows the water tank providing the water tothe container to be placed below solar collector, avoiding any shadowingeffects on the solar collector as the sun moves across the sky.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are by examples, and are intended toprovide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of theinvention and, together with the description, serve to explain theprinciples of the invention. In the drawings,

FIG. 1 illustrates a solar tracking system according to a firstembodiment of this invention; and

FIG. 2 illustrates another solar tracking system according to a secondembodiment of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferredembodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers areused in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or likeparts.

FIG. 1 illustrates a solar tracking system 100 according to a firstembodiment of this invention. The solar tracking system 100 includes asolar collector 101, e.g. a photovoltaic device, to revolve and trackthe sun 150. The solar collector 101 has a fulcrum 101 a, locatedbetween its first end 101 b and second end 101 c. The fulcrum 101 a ispreferably, but is not limited to being, located at a middle point (ofthe solar collector 101) between the first end 101 b and the second end101 c. In this embodiment, the fulcrum 101 a can be pivoted on a top end105 of a support member 104, which is secured to a floor 106, e.g., aroof floor.

A resilient member 102 and a water container 110 are utilized to drivethe solar collector 101 to revolve. The water container 110 is mountedat the first end 101 b of the solar collector 101. The water container110 can be mounted at the first end 101 b of the solar collector 101directly or with a wire, chain, rope or cable 107, i.e., the wire,chain, rope or cable 107 is interconnected between the water container110 and the first end 101 b of the solar collector 101. The resilientmember 102 is secured to and supports an underside of the second end 101c of the solar collector 101, with the resilient member 102 extendingwhen the solar collector 101 pivots about the fulcrum 101 a with thefirst end 101 b moving down and the second end 101 c moving up (asillustrated in FIG. 1). In this embodiment, the resilient member 102 canbe an extension spring.

The water container 110 has a water inlet 116 and a water outlet valve129. The water inlet 116 is used to receive water from a water supply126. When the water container 110 receives water from the water supply126 and becomes heavier, the solar collector 101 revolves clockwise,i.e., in a westward direction. When the water container 110 is drainingwater and becomes lighter, the solar collector 101 revolvescounter-clockwise, i.e., in an eastward direction.

The water supply 126 has a water input valve 128 to regulate the rate atwhich water flows into the water container 110 from the water supply 126(hereinafter referred to as “the water-supply flow rate”). Thewater-supply flow rate regulated by the water input valve 128 ispreferably adjusted to a constant rate to enable the water container 110to drive the solar collector 101 (against the force exerted by theresilient member 102) to revolve at a constant angle speed. Therefore,the solar collector 101 is able to track the sun 150 from east to thewest throughout the day time.

The water outlet valve 129 of the water container 110 is used toregulate the rate at which water is drained from the water container 110(hereinafter referred to as “the water-draining flow rate”). Thewater-draining flow rate regulated by the water outlet valve 129 ispreferably adjusted to a constant rate to reduce the weight of the watercontainer 110 such that the resilient member 102 can drive, i.e., pull,the solar collector 101 to revolve at a constant angle speed. During thenight time, the solar collector 101 does not track the sun. Therefore,the water-draining flow rate of the water container 110 can be greaterthan the water-supply flow rate of the water supply 126 such that thesolar collector 101 can faster return back to a starting point fortracking the sun in the morning.

A trigger switch 114 is used to detect if the water container 110 isfull of water so as to close the water input valve 128 and open thewater outlet valve 129 to drain water out of the water container 110.The trigger switch 114 maybe located, but is not limited to beinglocated, at an upper position within the water container 110.

A trigger switch 112 is used to detect if the water container 110 isempty of water so as to open the water input valve 128 to supply waterand close the water outlet valve 129. The trigger switch 112 maybelocated, but is not limited to being located, at a bottom within thewater container 110.

A water receiving inlet 127 is used to collect the water from the wateroutlet valve 129 of the water container 110. The water supply 126 andthe water receiving inlet 127 can be both connected to a water pipe 122,which is connected to a water tank 120 at a higher level. Thus, thewater used to operate the solar tracking system 100 can be returned backto its original water supply system within one day and no water iswasted.

FIG. 2 illustrates a solar tracking system 200 according to a secondembodiment of this invention. The solar tracking system 200 is differentfrom the solar tracking system 100 with respect to the positioning ofthe resilient member and the trigger switch. The solar tracking system200 includes a solar collector 201, e.g. a photovoltaic device, torevolve and track the sun 250. The solar collector 201 has a fulcrum 201a, located between its first end 201 b and second end 201 c. The fulcrum201 a is preferably, but is not limited to being, located at a middlepoint (of the solar collector 201) between the first end 201 b and thesecond end 201 c. In this embodiment, the fulcrum 201 a can be pivotedon a top end 205 of a support member 204, which is secured to a floor206, e.g., a roof floor.

A resilient member 202 and a water container 210 are utilized to drivethe solar collector 201 to revolve. The water container 210 is mountedat the first end 201 b of the solar collector 201. The water container210 can be mounted at the first end 201 b of the solar collector 201directly or with a wire, chain, rope or cable 207, i.e., the wire,chain, rope or cable 207 is interconnected between the water container210 and the first end 201 b of the solar collector 201. The resilientmember 202 is secured to and supports an underside of the first end 201b of the solar collector 201, with the resilient member 202 compressingwhen the solar collector 201 pivots about the fulcrum 201 a with thefirst end 201 b moving down and the second end 201 c moving up (asillustrated in FIG. 2). The resilient member 202 can be a compressionspring.

The water container 210 has a water inlet 216 and a water outlet valve229. The water inlet 216 is used to receive water from a water supply226. When the water container 210 receives water from the water supply226 and becomes heavier, the solar collector 201 revolves clockwise,i.e., in a westward direction. When the water container 210 is drainingwater and becomes lighter, the solar collector 201 revolves counterclockwise, i.e., in an eastward direction.

The water supply 226 has a water input valve 228 to regulate the rate atwhich water flows into the water container 210 from the water supply 226(hereinafter referred to as “the water-supply flow rate”). Thewater-supply flow rate regulated by the water input valve 228 ispreferably adjusted to a constant rate to enable the water container 210to drive the solar collector 201 (against the force exerted by theresilient member 202) to revolve at a constant angle speed. Therefore,the solar collector 201 is able to track the sun 250 from east to westthroughout the day.

The water outlet valve 229 of the water container 210 is used toregulate the rate at which water is drained from the water container 210(hereinafter referred to as “the water-draining flow rate”). Thewater-draining flow rate regulated by the water outlet valve 129 ispreferably adjusted to a constant rate to reduce the weight of the watercontainer 210 such that the resilient member 202 can drive the solarcollector 201 to revolve at a constant angle speed. During the night,the solar collector 201 does not track the sun. Therefore, thewater-draining flow rate of the water container 210 can be greater thanthe water-supply flow rate of the water supply 226 such that the solarcollector 201 returns back to a starting point for tracking the sun inthe morning.

A trigger switch 214 is used to detect if the water container 210 ismoved upward to a position indicating that the water container is emptyof water so as to open the water input valve 228 to supply water andclose the water outlet valve 229. The trigger switch 214 may be locatedon, but is not limited to being on, the water supply 226.

A trigger switch 212 is used to detect if the water container 210 ismoved downward to a position indicating that the water container is fullof water so as to close the water input valve 228 and open the wateroutlet valve 229 to drain water out of the water container 210. Thetrigger switch 212 may be located on, but is not limited to being on, awater receiving inlet 227.

The water receiving inlet 227 is used to collect the water from thewater outlet valve 229 of the water container 210. The water supply 226and the water receiving inlet 227 can be both connected to a water pipe222, which is connected to a water tank 220 at a higher level. Thus, thewater used to operate the solar tracking system 200 can be returned backto its original water supply system within one day and no water iswasted. The water supply system can be a water tank/pump system with themain function of providing everyday water use to the household or abusiness building.

In the solar tracking system 100 of FIG. 1, another resilient member,e.g. a resilient member 202, can be secured to and supports an undersideof the first end 101 b of the solar collector 101 if the resilientmember 102 does not provide enough force to balance a larger watercontainer.

Similarly, in the solar tracking system 200 of FIG. 2, another resilientmember, e.g. a resilient member 102, can be secured to and supports anunderside of the second end 201 c of the solar collector 201 if theresilient member 202 does not provide enough force to balance a largerwater container.

According to the above-discussed embodiments, the solar tracking systemdisclosed herein fills only one water container throughout the day timeand drains it out continuously during the night time. This forgoes theneed of a clockwork mechanism or an angle measurement device as found ina conventional solar tracking system. The flow of water is controlled byvalves triggered by the trigger switches only twice a day when the watercontainer is either full or empty. This leads to a simpler overallsystem in line with the purpose of providing a cheap solar trackingsystem. The water container disclosed herein is also attached under thesolar collector via a wire as opposed to mounted above the solarcollector in the conventional solar tracking system. This allows thewater tank providing the water to the container to be placed below solarcollector, avoiding any shadowing effects on the solar collector as thesun moves across the sky.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made to the structure of the presentinvention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present inventioncover modifications and variations of this invention provided they fallwithin the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.

1. A solar tracking system comprising: a solar collector having a firstend and a second end; a fulcrum located between the first end and thesecond end of the solar collector, and about which the solar collectorrevolves eastward or westward; a water container attached to the firstend of the solar collector and having a water inlet and a water outletvalve; a first resilient member secured to and supporting an undersideof the first end of the solar collector, with the first resilient membercompressing when the solar collector pivots about the fulcrum with thefirst end moving down and the second end moving up; a water supply forinputting water into the water inlet of the water container; a firsttrigger switch for detecting if the water container is moved upward to aposition indicating that the water container is empty of water so as toopen the water input valve to supply water and close the water outletvalve; and a second trigger switch for detecting if the water containeris moved downward to a position indicating that the water container isfull of water so as to close the water input valve and open the wateroutlet valve to drain water out of the water container.
 2. The solartracking system of claim 1, wherein the first resilient member is acompression spring.
 3. The solar tracking system of claim 1, furthercomprising a water receiving inlet for collecting the water from thewater outlet valve.
 4. The solar tracking system of claim 1, furthercomprising a wire, chain, rope or cable interconnected between the watercontainer and the first end of the solar collector.
 5. The solartracking system of claim 1, further comprising a support member, and thefulcrum is pivoted on a top end of the support member.
 6. The solartracking system of claim 1, further comprising a second resilient membersecured to and supporting an underside of the second end of the solarcollector, with the second resilient member extending as the solarcollector pivots about the fulcrum with the first end moving down andthe second end moving up.
 7. The solar tracking system of claim 6,wherein the second resilient member is an extension spring.
 8. The solartracking system of claim 1, wherein the water supply comprises a waterinput valve.
 9. A solar tracking system comprising: a solar collectorhaving a first end and a second end; a fulcrum located between the firstend and the second end of the solar collector, and about which the solarcollector revolves eastward or westward; a water container attached tothe first end of the solar collector and having a water inlet and awater outlet valve; a first resilient member secured to and supportingan underside of the second end of the solar collector, with the firstresilient member extending when the solar collector pivots about thefulcrum with the first end moving down and the second end moving up; awater supply for inputting water into the water inlet of the watercontainer; a first trigger switch for detecting if the water containeris empty of water so as to open the water input valve to supply waterand close the water outlet valve; and a second trigger switch fordetecting if the water container is full of water so as to close thewater input valve and open the water outlet valve to drain water out ofthe water container.
 10. The solar tracking system of claim 9, whereinthe first resilient member is an extension spring.
 11. The solartracking system of claim 9, further comprising a water receiving inletfor collecting the water from the water outlet valve.
 12. The solartracking system of claim 9, further comprising a wire, chain, rope orcable interconnected between the water container and the first end ofthe solar collector.
 13. The solar tracking system of claim 9, furthercomprising a support member, and the fulcrum is pivoted to a top end ofthe support member.
 14. The solar tracking system of claim 9, furthercomprising a second resilient member secured to and supporting anunderside of the first end of the solar collector, with the firstresilient member compressing as the solar collector pivots about thefulcrum with the first end moving down and the second end moving up. 15.The solar tracking system of claim 14, wherein the second resilientmember is a compression spring.
 16. The solar tracking system of claim11, wherein the water supply comprises a water input valve.